Over-expression of GCN2-Type Protein Kinase in Plants

Abstract

Methods and compositions to achieve a significant reduction in free amino acid concentration in plants and a mitigation of the effects of sulphur deficiency by over-expression of GCN2.

1 . A method for producing a plant with a reduced amount of one or more free amino acids, the method comprising introducing and over-expressing a nucleic acid construct encoding GCN2 or a functional variant thereof in the plant. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid construct encodes a plant GCN2. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the total amount of free amino acids is reduced. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the total amount of free asparagine is reduced. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method reduces the amount of the one or more free amino acids in the plant by about 10% to 80%. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the method reduces the amount of the one or more free amino acids in the grain, tuber or other harvestable organ of the plant. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plant is a monocot or dicot plant. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plant is a crop plant. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the plant is a wheat, rice, potato, soybean, rye, oat, barley or maize plant. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the plant is a cereal plant. 
     
     
         11 .- 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid construct further comprises a regulatory sequence. 
     
     
         14 . A plant made by the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         15 . A transgenic plant with a reduced amount of one or more free amino acids, wherein the plant comprises a nucleic acid construct encoding GCN2 or a functional variant thereof. 
     
     
         16 . A method for reducing the amount of acrylamide produced upon processing of harvested plant material, the method comprising:
 (a) introducing into and over-expressing in a plant a nucleic acid construct encoding GCN2;   (b) harvesting the plant material for processing.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the plant produces reduced amounts of free asparagine, other free amino acids, or both. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the reduced amounts of asparagine or other free amino acids is in the grain, tuber or other harvestable organ of a plant. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A method for producing grain of improved quality by reducing the formation of carcinogenic chemicals during heat processing the grain, wherein the method comprises introducing into and over-expressing in a grain plant a nucleic acid construct encoding GCN2 or a functional variant thereof. 
     
     
         21 .- 28 . (canceled)